64 Dr. Walter Flight— On Meteorites. 



silicic acid and magnesia. It appears to occupy the same place 

 among the unisilicates as enstatite does among the bisilicates, but 

 requires further examination. 



1875. February 12tli, 10-30 p.m. (Chicago time). Iowa Co., 

 State of Iowa.' 



A very large and brilliant fireball passed over Iowa City at the 

 above date, in a direction slightly N. of W. ; the apparent size of 

 the meteor was about half that of a full moon, and it was accom- 

 panied by a broad train of light of a slightly green hue. Three 

 separate explosions of the fireball were noticed while it was still in 

 view, and about two or three minutes after it disappeared three 

 reports, resembling the discharge of the blast of a quarry, were heard. 



Tlie phenomenon attracted general attention throughout several 

 counties in the central part of the State of Iowa ; and although the 

 visible path of the meteor does not appear to have exceeded 50 to 60 

 miles, the occurrence attracted attention and was heard over an area 

 measuring about 125 miles from E. to W., and half that distance 

 from N. to S. An observer at Brooklyn was aroused from his bed 

 by the report ; and another, who was riding in a sleigh near West 

 Liberty, 40 miles E. of the spot where the stones fell, states that 

 objects were rendered about as visible as if it were day, the explo- 

 sions being loud, and followed by a rumbling soimd that lasted some 

 60 or 90 seconds. According to the Grinell Herald, the interval, as 

 observed at that town, between the light of the meteor being seen 

 and the report being heard was three minutes. The Des Moines 

 Begister states that between Eed Rock and Newton some of the 

 meteorites passed so near the earth's surface that they clipped off 

 branches from the trees. 



Prof. N. E. Leonard, of the Iowa State University, states that the 

 meteorites weighed altogether about 250 lbs., whereof 141 lbs. came 

 into his possession; Prof. Hinrichs makes the total weight about 

 300 lbs. The largest mass, which was broken in falling, weighed 

 43^ lbs., the chief fragments, found together, being 20 lbs. and IGlbs. 

 in weight. 



According to a description, of a very sensational character, 

 which is given in the Dubuque Times, one of the meteorites was 

 found in a field about three miles S. of the village of West Liberty, 

 having penetrated, so it is stated, to a depth of fifteen feet into the 

 ground. 



The Davenport Gazette states that another stone fell at Homestead, 

 near Iowa City (lat. 41° 46' N., long. 92° 0' W.), in a field covered 

 with ice and snow, and rebounded in a N.E. direction for a distance 

 of more than thirty feet up a slight declivity, where it came to rest 



1 A. W. Wright, Amer. Journ. Sc. ix. 459, and x. 44 ; J. W. Mallet, Amer. 

 Journ. Sc. 1875, x. 206; N. R. Leonard, ib. x. 357 ; A. W. Wright, Amer. Journ. 

 Sc. 1876, xi. 253; An Account of the Betonatinff Meteor of February \2, 1875, byC. 

 W. Irish, Iowa City, 1875, Daily Press Job Printing Office, Dubuque Street; 

 M. Delafontaine, Bibliotheque JJniverselle, October, 1875, 188; G. A. Daubree, 

 rinstittit, 1875 (Nos. 105-122), 138; C. W. Gmnhel, Sitzungsber. Ak. JFiss. 

 Miinchen, 1875, y. 313. 



